Oct 29, 2012 3 min read

Some voters in Washington and Greene counties will find themselves choosing between two strangers as their representative in Congress in next week’s general election, after the 9th Congressional District was expanded into this area in last year’s redistricting. Democrat Karen Ramsburg is facing off against incumbent Republican Bill Shuster in the sprawling district, which takes in all or part of 11 counties. Ramsburg lives in Mercersburg, Franklin County; Shuster in Hollidaysburg, Blair County. The congressional race, however, seems to have evaded Washington and Greene counties, as Ramsburg has not made any stop here while Shuster’s visits have been limited. “I’ve done my best to try and reach out,” said Ramsburg, 50, who admitted to having to campaign around her full-time nursing job and on a shoestring budget of $10,000. “I feel they didn’t welcome me out there.” Ramsburg ran a write-in campaign for the Democratic nomination in the April primary, and received enough votes to allow her name to appear on the general election ballot. There was no Democratic candidate on the primary ballot. An independent, Ramburg opted to seek the Democratic write-in nomination rather than attempt to gather 8,000 signatures necessary to run as an independent. She switched parties after the election. Meanwhile, Shuster, 51, who is running for his seventh term in the House, has visited Centerville, meeting with Mayor Ron White and Council President Patsy Ricciuti. He also has gone to California, where he met with Council President Jon Bittner and California Area School Board President Norm Hasbrouck, according Sean Joyce, Shuster campaign manager. He also met with the mayor and borough officials in Donora. During a visit to Charleroi, Shuster toured Lee Supply Co. and the Mon Valley Career and Technology Center. In Greene County, Shuster attended Rain Day in Waynesburg and met with the county commissioners. “Congressman Shuster has been actively campaigning in all parts of his new district and is going to keep working hard to represent both current and new constituents of the 9th district,” said Joyce. “He asks that the people of Southwestern Pennsylvania return him to D.C .to continue the fight to get our economy back on track.” In Greene County, the district includes: Carmichaels, Clarksville, Greensboro, Jefferson and Rices Landing boroughs, and Cumberland, Dunkard, Greene, Jefferson, Monongahela and Morgan townships. In Washington County, the district includes: Allenport, Bentleyville, California, Carroll Township, Centerville, Charleroi, Coal Center and Donora. As for the issues, Shuster believes Congress’ top responsibility is national security, followed by the need to connect the country coherently through transportation methods and routes. A member of the House’s Transportation Infrastructure Subcommittee, Shuster said he’s worked hard to build the nation’s bridges, railroads and harbors. Through his bipartisan efforts, he hopes to make reforms to Social Security that won’t negatively affect people 55 and older. Shuster also would like the see the repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare, and replace it with health insurance reforms. Ramsburg’s campaign is focusing on allegations that Shuster “votes against working people.” She said the federal government is only creating more low-wage jobs. She thinks the North American Free Trade Agreement should be repealed and tariffs should be placed on international commerce. “Trickle-down economics does not create wealth and prosperity,” said Ramsburg.